Alexandria’s Jay and Arline Hoffman just donated $18,500 to wipe out school lunch debts for students at T.C. Williams High School and its Minnie Howard Campus.
“These kids can’t graduate unless these debts are paid,” Hoffman, the local developer behind Hoffman Town Center, told ALXnow. “Arline and I are blessed to be able to do it.”
Whole Foods Donating to Local Nonprofit — “Now through the June 1, 2020, you can support The Child & Family Network Centers (CFNC) in Alexandria when you bring your own bag at Whole Foods at 1700 Duke Street. By bringing your own bag, you’ll save on the five-cent bag fee, which will automatically be donated to CFNC.” [Zebra]
Art Program for Residents in Recovery — “This fall, the Alexandria Residential Treatment Center (ARTC) partnered with Heard, a local nonprofit, to offer art workshops for individuals in recovery. An Alexandria-based creative arts initiative, Heard partners with nonprofits and local governments to provide marginalized and at-risk adults the opportunity to be heard through art and creativity with workshops in creative writing, visual arts, poetry, dance, etiquette and improvisation.” [City of Alexandria]
APD Launches Safety Campaign for Officers — “Commuters often hear about the importance of safety on the road, but a new police program in Alexandria, Virginia, seeks to help officers keep themselves out of harm’s way on the road. Through its newly-launched, 12-month ‘Safety First — Every Shift, Every Call’ campaign, Alexandria police will provide officers with monthly safety tips throughout 2020 on topics like safe driving tactics, traffic stops and driving while fatigued.” [WTOP]
Drug Take-Back Day Coming Soon — “Alexandria encourages residents to safely dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications, including those prescribed by veterinarians, during National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. A special collection will take place on January 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., although medications may also be taken year-round to one of the permanent drop box locations.” [City of Alexandria]
(Updated 2:20 p.m.) It’s been a week of ups and downs for the Safeway next to the Bradlee Shopping Center.
A couple days ago it was robbed at knifepoint. But tomorrow it will host a group of Washington Redskins cheerleaders as the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) receives a large food donation.
Bus Barn Set for Demolition — “Located at 600 N. Royal St., the former Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) bus garage, a.k.a. bus barn, has remained vacant since August 2014… Demolition of the bus barn is scheduled to begin on January 2, 2020. In its place, a mixed use apartment building will be built.” [Zebra]
Prominent Local Pastor Announces Sabbatical — “After 30 years of preaching more than 5,000 sermons, the Rev. Howard-John Wesley stood in front of his congregation on Dec. 1 and admitted he needed a break from the Lord’s work… Wesley, 47, has been pastor of the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., for the past 11 years, leading four services every weekend, averaging 4,500 in attendance and 50,000 viewers online.” [Washington Post]
Potomac Yard Metro to Create Jobs — “Those behind the new Potomac Yard Metro station say the area is about to be transformed in more ways than one…. Amazon has promised 25,000 new HQ2 jobs in ten years. But Alexandria City says a finished Potomac Yard Metro will… bring 26,000 jobs on top of that. [WUSA 9]
Local Nonprofit Raises Thousands on ‘Giving Tuesday’ — “Together We Bake, the nonprofit that provides workforce and personal development for women in need in Alexandria, raised $22,821 on Giving Tuesday.” [Zebra]
Carpenter’s Shelter Getting Amazon Donation — “A nonprofit that is building a $2 million facility for the homeless in Old Town Alexandria says it has reached its fundraising goal after receiving $300,000 from Amazon, Inc… The donation from Amazon is the latest example of how the retail giant is trying to be a good corporate citizen in Northern Virginia.” [Washington Post, Patch]
Digital Plaudits for City — “Alexandria has been ranked the fourth top digital city of its size in the United States, according to the 2019 Digital Cities Survey… This is the 15th consecutive year Alexandria has been ranked in the top 10, including two years in first place.” [City of Alexandria]
Parent-teacher conferences can be a stressful situation for both parties, but a donation from a nearby pizza shop helped ease that stress last week at Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology.
A manager at Toppers Pizza (3827 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray said they received an order for 185 pizzas from someone in Alexandria City Public Schools, in preparation for parent-teacher conferences.
Stolen Vehicle Prompts Police Helo — “The Alexandria Police Department stopped a stolen vehicle in the 3000 block of King Street. A helicopter has been requested to assist.” [Twitter/@AlexandriaVAPD]
Route 7 Bus Lanes Planned — “New plans for rapid bus stations and bus lanes along Route 7 in Northern Virginia show the changes that could come to the busy commuter route over the next decade. A new conceptual engineering report lays out 18 specific bus rapid station locations from Tysons to Alexandria.” [WTOP]
Key Leader Chosen for New VT Campus — “Virginia Tech has found its founding director for the computer science program at its forthcoming Innovation Campus in Alexandria. Sara Hooshangi, a faculty member at George Washington University’s College of Professional Studies since 2010, will join Virginia Tech in January to build the curriculum at the new campus.” [Washington Business Journal]
Va. Tech Flags at Market Square — “Thanks to @AlexandriaVAGov #VirginiaTech flags are flying on Market Square commemorating the one-year anniversary of the #VTInnovationCampus announcement. Snap your photo – they’ll be up all week.” [Twitter]
New Silver Diner to Open Next Year — “Silver Diner will open one of its newest location at a mixed-use development… near Northern Virginia Community College’s Alexandria campus. The 6,600-square-foot restaurant will be part of Weingarten Realty Investors’ West Alex, a Harris Teeter-anchored building at King and North Beauregard streets. It will open next summer.” [WTOP]
Free Flu Vaccines on Saturday — “The Alexandria Health Department will host a free flu shot clinic on October 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Patrick Henry Elementary School (4643 Taney Ave.). Flu shots are available for adults and children ages six months and older at no cost. No insurance or proof of residency is required.” [City of Alexandria]
